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Understanding Remission of Long-Term Conditions Through Electronic Health Records: Scoping Review.
Hilda Hounkpatin1, Benjamin Barton1, Margaret Ogden1
1Primary Care Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 5ST, United Kingdom, 44 2380590047.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|May 19, 2026
Summary
Defining remission in electronic health records (EHRs) for long-term conditions (LTCs) is crucial for tracking disease progression. This review found varied definitions but proposes standardized approaches for better EHR-based research and patient outcome monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Clinical Research
- Chronic Disease Management
Background:
- Multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) necessitate complex treatment plans.
- Understanding remission in long-term conditions (LTCs) is vital for disease progression insights and treatment efficacy evaluation.
- Electronic health records (EHRs) are increasingly utilized for monitoring clinical outcomes, yet remission definitions within EHRs lack clarity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize literature on how remission of LTCs has been defined in EHRs.
- To identify common definitions and variations in assessing LTC remission within electronic health records.
- To propose standardized definitions for remission in EHR-based research for multiple LTCs.
Main Methods:
- Conducted systematic electronic searches across multiple databases (OVID MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL EBSCO, Cochrane Library, Bielefeld Academic Search Engine) up to November 27, 2025.
- Included quantitative studies on adult populations using EHRs to assess LTC remission, excluding studies without clear remission definitions or those on cancer remission.
- Employed a narrative approach for data summarization and presented findings after consultation with clinicians and data experts.
Main Results:
- Analyzed 91 studies from 18 countries, primarily the United States, with sample sizes ranging from 12 to 72.9 million adults.
- Remission definitions were assessed across 12 LTCs, with inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression being most frequently studied.
- Common remission criteria included validated rating scales (61.5%), biochemical markers (31.9%), and cessation of pharmacological treatments (28.6%), showing substantial variation in criteria and follow-up duration.
Conclusions:
- Remission of LTCs can be identified and operationalized within EHRs, though current criteria exhibit significant variability.
- The study proposes standardized, comprehensive definitions for LTC remission in EHRs to enable cross-study comparisons and enhance research.
- Standardized definitions offer an opportunity to advance understanding of disease trajectories and improve patient outcome evaluation and monitoring.
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